2 killed during Hiabs operations near GPL lines

– GPL urges public to inform company before working near electrical components

Two persons are dead in separate incidents after coming into contact with Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL) electrical infrastructure while working from HIAB trucks over the past two weeks. GPL on Sunday issued a press release again urging all contractors, operators and members of the public to seek necessary permission and ensure proper supervision before undertaking any work in close proximity to GPL’s electricity network, as it responded to an emergency report received from a customer in Charity, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). According to the release, upon arrival at the location, GPL personnel were informed that a man who was operating a HIAB truck beneath a 13.8-kilovolt (kV) transmission line was reportedly electrocuted and had been transported to the hospital for medical attention. The utility company noted that the incident marks the second fatality within two weeks involving HIAB operations near electrical infrastructure.
The first incident, it revealed, occurred January 26, involving a contractor of One Communications, who reportedly came into contact with the magnetic field of 69-kV Line in the vicinity of Owen Street, Kitty. At the latest fatal incident, a preliminary assessment conducted by GPL revealed no damage to the electricity network and the machinery involved was removed from the site. The GPL team subsequently visited the Charity Police Station, where they were advised that an official report had already been lodged regarding the incident. GPL again strongly urged everyone to seek the necessary permission and ensure proper supervision before undertaking any work in close proximity to GPL’s electricity network, as a critical safety measure. The statement noted that GPL’s Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) Department, along with a team from the Ministry of Labour and Manpower, will be conducting a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the latest incident.